Bugaboos: The Game, Not the Stroller
The thing about computer games for early-elementary kids is that there is a precarious balance to be struck between learning and fun. You want it to be educational (justification, justification) but if it's too difficult or dry it won't hold their attention.
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Hooked On My Baby Not Having Tantrums At Dinner Time
My niece has been telling her parents what she wants using sign language since she was about seven months old.
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They claim to be a "new concept in kid's entertainment," but in saying as much, I think Reading For All
Nairobi's Knapsack features a nice little selection of stuff for kids with an multicultural bent. There's a sweet array of toys and dolls beyond what you'll find in the local Tarzhay, although what really anchors the shop is the virtual bookshelf.
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"Just One More Book," Definitely Preferable to "Just One More Cookie"
My three-year-old daughter (the little angel) has entirely too many dumb books, which is killing me softly, because why waste time on dumb books ever in your life?
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"I'd Like to Thank Cool Mom Picks..."
Motherhood means giving up more than your waistline, I realize, as Oscar weekend is upon us and of all the nominated flicks, I've managed to catch only one of them.
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Swan Lake on a Budget
As an avid ballet lover, I've been waiting for the day my daughter was old enough to make it through the Nutcracker. But considering she can't make it through a Disney movie without a snack and at least one dance break, I'm not willing to shell out the dough to take her to an actual performance.
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Tell Me More Stories
Amy Friedman’s wonderful multicultural Tell Me a Story compilation was easily one of our favorite CDs of 2006. So of course we’re thrilled that she’s at last released a follow-up with Tell Me a Story 2: Animal Magic.
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Buddy Has Two Mommies
One of my greatest reservations when considering a move away from New York was the perceived lack of diversity in middle America.
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If Mama Can't Go to the Sippy Cups, Bring the Sippy Cups to Mama
T
he one downside to The Sippy Cups' new concert DVD release, Electric Storyland Live at the Great American Music Hall is it just may bum your kids out -if only in that they'll wish they were there instead of at home.
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Ordering French Fries Isn't Actually Speaking French
Bilingual educational tools are all the rage in the US these days and The Cool Mom Picks editors have certainly come across our share of DVDs, CDs, books and other tools to get kids speaking everything from Spanish to...well, not Sanskrit. Yet.
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Possibly the Only Holiday Travel Without Delays
When I popped the Travel Time Stories CD in and a sweet woman's voice called my daughter by name and proceeded to tell her a story, just for her, well, it was like magic. Magic spun by fairies while dancing on rainbows with shiny golden unicorns.
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This Farm is Muy Loco
Lately I've been mixing it up with some music and learning all in one with Professor Pocket: Our Silly Farm Adventure. This much lauded, award-winning CD was created by two sisters-in-law, and mixes English and Spanish dialogue through both spoken word and singing.
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While we haven't sold out to the Hollywood machine just yet (Watch out Harvey Weinstein, we're coming for you!) we are excited to tell you about the nine short Cool Mom Picks videos we taped for Watch Out Dora, There's a New Girl in Town
I must confess that without television, I wouldn't get to shower as often as I do. Or use the bathroom alone. Or check my email. But know this: I am very picky about what shows I play on continuous loop.
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Pigging Out
I am just not one of those parents who believe that every moment in a child's day must be devoted to flashcards, language drilling and hardcore mind shaping. Sometimes kids just need to kick back and chill out around some fun cartoons.
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"We're all for girl superheroes!" responded my co-editor, Kristen, when I forwarded her the url for the new animated series, There's More to Spanish Than "Vamanos, Dora!"
I'm proud to say I speak Spanish. I'm not fluent or anything, but I can handle basic conversations. OK, OK, I'll admit it: All the Spanish I know I learned from episodes of Sesame Street. But I can count to veinte quite convincingly and order a Corona.
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Rockin the 'garten
It's an understatement to say that my daughter is thrilled about her first day of kindergarten. She's already selected her outfit and has been mulling over backpacks. But she also has a gazillion questions
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Do Babies All Have to Be Einsteins?
If you gave birth within the last ten years, the odds are about 4 in 5 that you've got one of those make your baby a rocket scientist DVDs on your shelf. Because even if you steered away from such things yourself, someone else thought it was a fabulous shower gift. Am I right?
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Your Kid the TV Star
The consensus at Cool Mom Picks headquarters is that we don't love licensed character products as a first choice for gifts. The only problem is, our kids generally do. So being the loving parents that we are, we'll occasionally cross the line to make our kids happy -- or in this case, totally indebted to us for life.
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21st Century Flower Child
When I first was contacted about Flower Child, a dvd of children's poetry on video, I admit I had visions of dirty-nosed hippie children reciting spoken word pieces by the light of lava lamps. I was wayyyy off. The dvd is wonderful.
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YouTube for Moms: The Boob Tube?
One thing pregnant women and new mothers are definitely not lacking is a variety of information sources--some more desired (Cool Mom Picks) than others (the mother-in-law with some very interesting views on putting whiskey in the bottle). But picking and choosing from among the stacks of books and lists of URLs can be daunting. And frankly, who has that kind of energy these days? Sometimes a passive medium like TV is just what the doctor ordered.
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You Oughta Be in Pictures
My toddler's going through that self-awareness phase right now. She loves to preen in front of the bathroom mirror and make silly faces at her reflection windows. Not surprisingly, Rosie's new MeMovies are the greatest thing to hit our household since the swaddling blanket.
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A Star is Born
When I first heard about Hello Beautiful Films, I swooned. Who wouldn't want a professionally written, edited and produced video of your children that blends your own photos and home video footage with new footage shot by a pro cinematographer?
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Stories Worth Telling Over and Over (Sorry Grandpa)
When I hear about kid stories on CD, I imagine some generic, B-list voice over talent reading Peter Rabbit as my brood rubs their eyes. But Tell Me a Story: Timeless Folktales from Around the World from writer/producer/mastermind Amy Friedman was a different, um, story.
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Juno What's On The TV?
After my second weekend-long absence from the girl, I came home to find her speaking several new words. She can now say helicopter, big candy, and, inexplicably to me at first, juno baby.
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When You're Too Sleep-Deprived to Cut Through the BS
As a new mom, it’s hard to know where to turn for good advice. There are several websites offering free newsletters, which at their best clutter up your in-box unopened. At their worst, they make you feel like if you don't buy a particular developmental toy from their online store right now now NOW, your child will grow up to rob banks and torture small animals.
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Dads-To-Be, Rejoice
If your partner is anything like mine, his definition of hell is eight consecutive weeks of Lamaze class. Modus Five has come up with such a simple solution, it makes you wonder why no one has done it sooner.
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Leave the Breast Milk. Take the Cannoli.
Considering my own baby's daddy wouldn't have read a baby book if I had duct taped it to his hands, the idea to reinvent the genre as man-friendly computer software is a brilliant move.
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PopPop? Uncle Marty? Who are They?
As a military family, we do our best to keep everyone posted on the goings on of the first grandchild. But, let's face it, I can barely keep track of my own relatives, let alone my husband's huge family. And,... ... [More]
Now You Can Save Your Singing for the Shower
If you are one of those moms who’d love to take your kid to music class but dreads singing in front of anyone except yourself in the bathroom mirror, then the Music's Everywhere dvd is the perfect solution for you.
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cmp book club
If you think Madysynne is bad, this list of real names will have you equally howling and cringing.
Check out more CMP approved reads at our new book club!
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Ask Cool Mom Picks
I have been searching for a photo album or scrapbook that is NOT in the classic style you see everywhere that's either pink and fluffy or traditional leather. Any ideas? -Sarah
Googling "photo albums" can definitely lead to very bad things. We always find cool stuff at Zanisa and we like the Molly West books at Chittypulga.
But lately we really dig the handmade wooden albums from Tree by Kerri Lee [pictured] with metal hinges and the funky wooden ring and strap. And the prices are terrific.
Got a gift dilemma? A shopping conundrum? Write to CMP at info@coolmompicks.com.
CMP Flickr Group
CMP reader Sarah's daughter Alli looks cozy and snug in her Baby Bisou Carrier.
Have a picture of your little one (or yourself) in a Cool Mom Picks find or prize you've won? Join our Flickr group so we can show off your good taste to the world.
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